#Community demanding for lower rates
Xoli Zulu
100-400 Residents of Middelburg have taken to the streets in a peaceful march to Steve Tshwete Local Municipality offices to deliver a memorandum calling for lower rates, service delivery and clean water.
Residents of Middelburg Mhluzi in Mpumalanga are tired of paying high municipal rates while service delivery is not rendered accordingly, water is dirty, illegal dumping is getting worse, polluting the air near their houses, while law enforcement is getting paid for doing nothing.
The community woke up in the early hours of the morning, marching to Steve Tshwete Local Municipality head offices to deliver a memorandum of their grievances. The march remained peaceful as residents voiced their frustrations over high electricity costs and municipal charges affecting people in the area
It was organized by community leaders of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality areas to the municipal head offices in Middelburg town
On 12th May 2026 residents gathered under the message “Woza community, Sikhulume” for a peaceful march to the municipality, voicing frustrations over rising utility costs and poor service delivery. Low-income households, the working-class community, and small businesses around the community its been 20 years community have been subjected to this situation. The memorandum was received by the mayor of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Mr. Mhlonishwa Masilela, accompanied by municipal manager Mr. Mandla Mguni and municipal speaker Mr. Joseph Ngubeni.
Community small business man by the name of Sihle Mahlangu who owns a car wash explained that these high rates affect his business a lot because he uses all of his profits to pay municipal bills and it makes it very difficult for him to continue taking care of his family, I also spoke to Themba Masango is one community leaders who organized this peaceful march and he said the municipal doesn’t account for grievances because it’s not the first time they submit memorandum to the municipality.
Suddenly, municipal rates keep on increasing normally, while service delivery is no longer the same as before; high electricity costs and municipal charges are affecting many houses in the community
The municipality must render service delivery to the community on time by partnering with local businesses and surrounding mines. The municipality can also ask local mines to assist with solar panels so that high electricity bills can be reduced, and the community must purchase electricity from Eskom, not the municipality. Law enforcement must do their job by patrolling at the communities all the time so that illegal dumping can be condemned
The municipality must purchase more dumping trucks and stop renting them, and also purify water so that the community gets clean water all the time. Reporting illegal dumping, identification of culprits by note of vehicle registrations, and Steve Tshwete Local Municipality must make sure that such areas are fenced to avoid further dumping, and also law enforcement must be visible all the time. Use of designated municipal refuse sites such as local dump sites for bulky.
